It used to be that you had to have some gray hairs on you before you felt this “rock and a hard place” feeling. But just in case you didn’t know, this is how our typical middle schoolers are living each day. Our young 11-13 year olds are leaving the house feeling pretty “fresh” and then somewhere between math and recess and the bus loop they look like they are hanging on by a thread. This is in the best and worst of neighborhoods. It has less to do with family income, status or zip code than it ever did, even though that seems to matter more than ever. In reality it has to do with what we as moms and dads do to debrief, cleanse and reboot with our tribe everyday.

Photo by Joseph Gonzalez on Unsplash

Earlier in the year I started a Periscope® broadcast called “The Friday Night Family Scope”. My mission was to bring families closer together in a positive way. For many of us the weekends need to be a time of family dialysis. We need to get inside the blood of our kids and remove the toxins. If we don’t go into the shadows and knock on their doors, ask the right questions and find out what they are focused on, we can’t provide help.

But if your kids are anything like mine, you know that you can’t wait for Friday to make this happen.How can we motivate and energize our kids more frequently?How can we get inside their lives and stay in there, especially if they are moving into young adulthood?Can a few minutes a couple of nights a week make a difference?Yes! We are more than chauffeurs, ATMs and short order cooks. We do more than feed and clothe. We do even more than teach and keep them safe. In just a few minutes devoted parents can do pivotal things. We help our children thrive in a scary world. And we gotta jump in and do a little very day.

2 Quick & Easy Tips:

Listen More Than You Lecture. If you are guilty of this, raise your hand. Come on! Raise it up right at your desk or in your kitchen or at the gym. I know you are out there. Join us. My hand is raised too! One is markedly easy. The other is definitely hard. But if you can get a tween or teen to talk to you, even if what they are saying is making you want to scream at the top of your lungs, try to listen. Yes, sometimes the story seems like a web that is wrapped upon itself and you want to jump in and untangle it. I know…I’ve been there…in fact, I visited that familiar destination earlier today. In the midst though, it hit me that I needed to assign dignity to this young adult that is so much like…well, me! And a lecture wasn’t going to cut it. What about you? Can you use your ears first this week?

Let Acknowledgement Be Your First Words. I keep thinking that after I speak I love to know that someone was actually listening to me. The same is true for our kids; listening is only half the battle. The other half is letting them know that we heard them. Extract something to show that you acknowledge they have been willing to share. “I know what you mean”, doesn’t carry as much weight as “Man, that sounds awful! I’m sorry that you had to face that.” (Or whatever similar matches your tribe). It’s not easy for our kids to open up. If they do, don’t waste the opportunity. Acknowledge them, their feelings and what they have to say. It’s worth it.

Photo by Max Conrad on Unsplash

So many of our precious kids are at pressure’s edge. The waves keep coming and they are aren’t dressed for swimming. If we are going to make a difference we are going to have to dive in deep.

The goal of Family Dialysis is to chat about ways to get closer as a family and ensure that parents are the major influencers to a positive future. Let me know what you’d like to see. I’m excited to share with you!

Ready to get your positive energy in check? Looking to clean up your self-talk, create a personal affirmation plan or ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign? Complete the questionnaire for a free coaching strategy session.

Today was a near perfect day in Maryland. The sun has been high and glistening, adding a slight warmth to the skin but not a burn, the occasional wind has rustled the trees in the yard, even the bumblebees hummed a bit louder it seemed. Well, maybe just to me.

Yes! I am that girl. The year begins and ends for me on the first day of Summer. I always wished my name was Summer. There was that one girl I knew growing up and…oops, already digressing away from my point. THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER! #FDOS

I can remember staying outside so late and waiting for the sun to finally go down. It was precious as the pink and amber head of glory slipped behind the range of Orange mountains near my family home in New Jersey. Shoes were optional, double dutch and hopscotch were desirable and ice-cream from the neighborhood truck “Eskie’s” was mandatory.

So tonight I grabbed a handful of my best memories to sprinkle on my kids and we rode up the highway, windows down, breezes flowing in, talking and laughing. As we headed east through the county, the weather threatened disagreement with my plan, and the raindrops began to fall light and steady in nearly transparent sheets, like the beads we hung from our doors to separate us from the outside world and create a false sense of privacy. The sky behind us was brilliant, gorgeous, shiny and bright. And I tossed the memory of riding on Route 280 in West Orange, 32 years ago in my red 1978 Ford Pinto, so low to the ground I felt like I need to use my heels to break, like Fred Flintstone. On that “First Day of Summer”, the sky behind my head was so utterly gorgeous that it nearly devastated me. Literally! I kept turning around to peek at it. I was so afraid that I would miss out on its beauty – like it might never happen again. I stared hard over my right shoulder until I lost my focus and had to drive the rest of the way home with those huge spots blurring my vision.

Today with the sun and rain coming at the same time, I have the wisdom that keeping my eyes on the road, my heart and mind in the present, and my memories in the past, but close enough to fondle, is the best plan of action. So I kept my eyes straight ahead and bounced my childhood onto my kids in the back seat. They laughed. Asked questions. Were genuinely interested, or at least acted like it.

Just as the rain stopped, and the sun was beginning to stream through the dark clouds, I reminded them about the wonderful Rainbow promise that God made, and told them to look for the rainbow. Like clockwork, it appeared (pictured above) We clapped and snapped and a new #FDOS memory was made.

Special moments surround us every single day. Many of our great days and best memories are behind us. The tendency to constantly peep over our shoulders to look for them is strong. But don’t miss the rainbow looking for the sunshine at your back. Allow the best parts of your past experiences to warm you, and keep looking forward for the miracles that are waiting.

Happy First Day of Summer!

Chatone Morrison Certified Professional Coach ChatoneMorrison.com

Ready to get your positive energy back in check? Looking to clean up your self-talk, create a personal affirmation plan or ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign? Complete the questionnaire for a free coaching strategy session.

Are you simply trying to juggle way too much information? Think of all the blogs, vlogs, Facebook posts, tweets, Instagram and Pinterest pics, Snapchat, Periscopes…the list goes on and on. It can get to be an over the top habit that moves from serving you to enslaving you. Don’t get me wrong. I am a lover of knowledge. I contribute and I consume. But what happens if you start to feel that you need ALL of it for your success. How can you know what is for you?

“OK Chatone”, you say. “We hear you Princess…but what if I need the information for my big idea? What if I’m building a new brand or company or product and I need to research and figure out what to do to be successful? What then?”

You are right. When you researching, learning, and growing into something that you have never been before, knowledge is key. Bear in mind, though, that all data is not good data. If you need something very specific, working with a coach…a great coach…is generally where you need to look. For the last 15 years I have consistently worked with one coach or another and it has helped me to make great strides in grabbing my goals.

However, one of the greatest advantages has been the ability to learn to quickly decipher what information out here is for me and what is not for me. That level of discernment has served me in such a big way! You know the feeling of buying the wrong thing on line with all the promises but then nothing happens? You feel nothing. You do nothing. You have no resonation. No soul-ping at all. Why? Because the information did not serve you. It just seemed like it. For me, working with various coaches helped me to memorize the sound of the ring of truth. Then it’s easy to buy the right records and sing along.

What about you? Still searching and unsure? Haven’t made the coach/mentor/consultant investment yet? Well until you do, I’m here to help! Check out these 5 ways to quickly evaluate information so you don’t have to waste your time or your money! (See if you can find the poem…)

Is it 100% True? Pick Good PEARS. Look for Proof, Experience, Authenticity and Realistic. It should be easy to do this. But the information out here is in overload format! And when you want success, there is a fantastic claim about everything ranging from how to trim fat from a raw chicken to how to trim fat from your thighs! Tip: If the information sounds too good to be true, it generally is!

Is it Really For You? Every Guru isn’t for you. Every gift is not meant for you to open. For example, you read about an amazing writing coach who is offering a program. She has 10 best sellers under her belt and has helped with over 500 clients to become best sellers also. Wow…she must be for you, right! No! Not if you hate writing. Haven’t read a book in 15 years. And the thought of a bookstore gives you hives. What excites today will demoralize tomorrow if it’s not for you. Buyer beware!

Does it Make You Feel Blue? Great question, right? Take a good look at who or what you watch the most. Perhaps it’s a top coach or trainer well renown in his/her professional. Content is flowing 24/7 and you know they must have what you need…look at their success?! But do you feel uneasy, annoyed, frustrated afterwards? Is their mode of motivation positive or do you sense an element of condescension? We are all gifted with the ability to almost automatically pick up on the energy of others. We just have the tendency to justify it. If you want your positivity to show up and stay up – Shift Accordingly!

Would You Share it With Your Crew? Sharing is an integral part of the fabric of our society. We specifically share what serves us personally. Think of the last time you had an amazing dinner at a hidden gem restaurant. Think about the last motivational book or article that you loved. Even think about the diet or exercise program that you feel truly served you. What was the first thing you wanted to do? SHARE!! Sharing is the social lifeblood of today’s media. So, if you consistently that you would NEVER share with anyone in your inner circle…simply ask why?

Afterwards Do you Feel Like You Grew? If you are able to get through the first four “poetry points” you have chosen great content so absorb on! Right? Well…there’s just one more thing. Let’s bottom line all of this. Growth is the key reason for taking in information. We are growing or dying. It’s that simple. Without it you might as well just sit on the couch and look out of the window instead of expending the mental energy needed to examine and apply the content that you have chosen. So pick morphy material! If the material is stagnant and can never be applied to anything new or is the same old, same old don’t expect anything to change.

Chances are, the volume will only increase. But equipped with these 5 steps you can turn up exactly what you want to hear and mute the rest. Be well!

Summer Positive Vibes

Ready to get your positive energy back in check? Looking to grow or do something you haven’t done in a long time? Complete the questionnaire for a free coaching strategy session.

Like this:

Strange question indeed. But everyday we encounter people that need a hankie. The back of their hand. The crook of their arm. A napkin. A tissue. A turn of the head. Anything to assist them from coughing all over you. You know what I’m saying! You’ve been the victim probably in the last few hours of someone coughing in your direction, not turning their head, ignoring the sputum that is dropping everywhere!

Negative, emotional coughing, is just as contagious as an actual virus. It’s prevalent to epidemic proportions. In the family it starts as young as early school age children. The negative energy is flowing and causing stagnation in ever area of our lives. It’s as hard to combat as a super bug. And just like those bugs, there are few if any external medicines that will do the ultimate trick. The prescription is usually something like: Rest. Fluids. Disinfect your environment so you don’t contaminate the family.

Do the same principles apply when someone has a chronic cough? A super bug of the spirit? Is there a way to avoid catching the epidemic?!

The good news? Yes! You absolutely can. The other good news? It’s the same formula as for a regular cough. But be careful . . . Chronic Coughers are not easily shaken!

Three Tips To Squash The Common Cough

Take a Break. If you are constantly bombarded with the negative drama of others, their sad stories, their woe-is-me existence, or their tales of victimization you will eventually catch the Common Cough. So take a break. It’s easy to see who these folks are in your life; when you see their name on your phone or email, a little sigh escapes your lips. That “sigh” is your sign! Give yourself permission to limit time with this individual. Sometimes you know how much you immunity can take, and other times you don’t know until you get home and you are coughing too! So instead of that, make a decision to honor your boundaries. You deserve to be in the best health possible. (In another blog or video I will jump into what happens when the cough resides in the house with you! Stayed Tuned!!)

Fluids. Fluids lubricate the system. Fluids assist things to get and stay moving. Instead of the dryness of the throat, just a little fluid eases everything. The same is true in dealing with emotionally negative people. The fluid that is most readily available, but sometimes hard to muster is kindness, love, and understanding, and this takes time. Wait! Doesn’t that contradict “taking a break”? Not exactly. If you want to have the most positive experience possible, there has to be a fair amount of “benefit of the doubt”. Everyone deserves that. In practical terms this means you might have infrequent but kind communications with this person. Especially in the workplace or in closer relationships. Would it really hurt to acknowledge this person, perhaps offering them a listening ear every now and again? Could you offer them a hankie? Perhaps having a good word for them? Even though it may not seem to make a dent, it will make a difference. If not for them, it will for you. If will create an ease based on putting someone else first, even just for a little while.

Disinfect the Environment. There is a really good reason why frequent hand washing is recommended when we are sick. It prevents that spread of germs. Does this hold true with negative, emotional coughing too? Yes! To help protect yourself from catching the cough, simply clean up! Don’t leave the negativity to fester in your mind. Replace it with positive recordings. Read books that build. Post affirmations in your surroundings. Use uplifting music to tune it out. Light a candle. Burn some incense. Spritz essential oils. Journal. All of these are like disinfectants for the mind. Protect yourself and prevent the spread of negative energy!

Keeping a positive healthy mind is pretty easy. With awareness and a few quick strategies you can steer clear of the Common Cough.

After school unwind with my little man. He normally runs in with a bunch of boyish banter. But yesterday he went straight to his room without saying hello. Spells trouble. Color change? (It’s a Maryland thing). Reflection form? Lost glasses? What?? Nope. Nope. And nope. He was dealing with emotions and developing identity.

I did what Mom’s do. Started asking questions. Expecting to hear about recess basketball, the math quiz, the virtues of jazz band and the like. I was on high alert when his answers were despondent and distant. Five minutes of questioning and probing (which seems short, but honestly is not) and the reluctant answers began to flow.

It began in PE, because little girl classmate, we will call “Anna” has not yet mastered a spiral when throwing a football. She tried for half the class. The teacher was patient. Allowed her to keep trying. Ignoring everything around him, that doesn’t include him is his specialty, but something new came up. When several boys laughed and called Anna out of her name; when he saw that her feelings might be getting hurt, the boy we have been pouring into and trying to raise well showed up.

First he thought he could stop them. Just talk them out of it. No chance. He saw on a basic level the P’s of evil: Persuasive and Pervasive. It seeks its way into the fabric of people and moves on through the room and it’s really hard to trace the beginning or find the end. He tried to get them to stop. The teacher was not responding and he felt like he had to do something. It didn’t even dawn on him that his actions, standing up for someone else like that might at best create alienation, or at worst be dangerous; my child has been threatened before. But it didn’t matter to him, he said he was just angry about it. And he wanted to do something which he did…because when he couldn’t make a direct difference, his backdoor ruckus caused the teacher to take notice.

Don’t get me wrong, I love teachers. Educators rock. They stay in a difficult job that is extremely demanding and often bears a dividend so far down the line it’s not realized until years later. I imagine that can work against your positive energy. Especially when have a gym full of 5th graders. (Sigh)

Identity peaked when Ms. “Gym” saw what was happening; due to the ruckus.
“Everyone sit down! Who laughed at “Anna” and made fun of her?! Step up right now! We are not having any of that in my class!” (Silence and Levi tilting his head in the direction of his otherwise friends, trying to get them to be honest about it.) Not a chance.

This continued until the threats began. Ms. “Gym” announced that all balls would be taken if someone didn’t come forward. In other words, all would suffer for the few. That struck his compassion bone, the one I didn’t know was yet growing…he couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up and walked over to put his ball away. Now here in the story I really felt my patience wearing thin. Was this super cute and respectful kid telling me that he really was the one making fun and laughing at “Anna”? I would like to say that I hadn’t accused him of that…but alas, even those of us who wear crowns fall off the throne one or twice a day!

His answer was so simple. “No, mom. I didn’t want everyone to lose out. It wasn’t fair. So I thought if I said it was me, at least all of them would be able to keep playing. Seriously mom – I don’t like when things are not fair. Then she accused me of lying. And I had to admit that I was just trying to save the class. And then I got in trouble for lying! You can’t win!”

Again…my left eye of scrutiny didn’t want to buy this story. My truth and pride radar were in conflict. But in the end, being able to slow down with him, I realized that it was all true. There had been a collision of his emotions and who he wants to be in life. A problem solver, lover of justice and purveyor of good. The presentation needs work for sure…but pretty cool I think. The things you learn when you slow down and let your little people talk.

The ending? I asked the question that I sometimes forget to ask. What would make you feel better son? The answer was the best part of my week so far:

Remember when you used to help me sleep by rubbing my eyelashes. Will you do that right now?

Needless to say – we laid together on the couch for a while, whispering and giggling and relaxing, then I took these pictures. It was the most intimate of dates with my boy. We both left better than we came. And I think that’s pretty cool.